JACKSON ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION
INTERCONNECTION PROCEDURE
Approved December 4, 2009
JACKSON ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION INTERCONNECTION
PROCEDURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose ................................................................................................................................. Page 2
Definitions ............................................................................................................................ Page 2
Requirements for Interconnection ........................................................................................ Page 3
Application Process .............................................................................................................. Page 5
Insurance Requirements ....................................................................................................... Page 7
Appendix A: Application Process Flowchart ...................................................................... Page 8
Appendix B: Interconnection Request................................................................................. Page 9
Appendix C: Interconnection Agreement .......................................................................... Page 12
1
JACKSON ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION INTERCONNECTION
PROCEDURE
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to define the minimum requirements for the interconnection of
Distributed Generation (DG) to Jackson Electric Membership Corporation’s (JEMC) Distribution
System. It is to be used as a guide for JEMC customers wanting to install generation and operate
it in parallel to the Distribution System (Interconnection Customer or Customer).
The requirements are intended to achieve the following:
1. Permit the Distributed Generation owner to operate their equipment in parallel with the
Distribution System in a safe and efficient manner.
2. Insure the safety of the general public and JEMC personnel.
3. Minimize the possible damage to the property of the general public, JEMC, and JEMC
customers.
4. Minimize adverse operating conditions of the Distribution System.
5. Minimize adverse service level to other JEMC customers.
6. Comply with all State and Federal Regulations.
7. Describe cost responsibility for interconnection.
8. Provide standard agreements and application processes.
II. DEFINITIONS
The following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
1. “Business Day” means any JEMC workday Monday thru Friday except for JEMC
holidays during which the offices of JEMC are closed. These are including New Years
Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day,
the day after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
2.
“Certified” means to adhering to applicable operational and safety standards including
ANSI/IEEE standards, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standards, NEC, and the NESC.
Certified equipment shall be certified by testing according to the appropriate standard and
documentation of testing and certification should be available upon request to JEMC.
3. “Certified Inverter” means a device that changes direct current (DC) electrical power to
alternating current (AC) electrical power and is certified to UL-1741 and complies with
IEEE 1547 and referenced standards.
2
4. “Distributed Generation” or (DG) means a facility owned and operated by a JEMC
customer for the production of electrical energy that is located on the customer’s
premises and operates in parallel with the Distribution System. By special permission as
described in the Addendum to the Interconnect Agreement, the DG facility may be
owned and operated by a non-JEMC customer.
5. “Distribution System” means the collection of lines, poles, and equipment owned and
operated by JEMC for the purpose of delivering electrical power to its customers.
6. “Fast Track Process” means an acceptance of the Interconnection Request by JEMC
without further engineering studies upon the DG facility qualifying using the screens in
Section IV part 2.
7. “Interconnection Request” means the submittal of the Application in which the
Interconnection Customer expresses intent to interconnect a DG facility to the
Distribution System.
8.
“Line Section” means a section of the Distribution System between two sectionalizing
devices.
9. “Point of Common Coupling” means the point where the JEMC owned facilities connects
to the Interconnection Customer Owned, usually but not necessarily at the metering point.
10. “Reclosing” means the sequence of open and close operations by fault protective devices
which are automatic and intended to clear or isolate a fault on the Distribution System
with the least service interruption to JEMC customers.
11. “Single-Phase Shared Secondary” means any section of the Distribution System operated
at single phase service utilization voltage (typically 240 Volts) that provides electrical
power to more than one customer.
12. “Study Process” means the process of identifying, completing, and reviewing necessary
engineering studies to evaluate the Interconnection Request. The Study Process is an
interactive process between JEMC and the Interconnection Customer described in
Section IV parts 3 and 4.
III. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCONNECTION
1. Evaluation of Requirements
Each DG will be evaluated by JEMC to determine what engineering studies are required
for safety and power quality concerns. The interconnection of the DG shall not cause any
reduction in the quality of service being provided to other customers. The impact of the
DG on the Distribution System is highly dependent on the location of the DG on the
Distribution System.
The following are criteria that each DG shall abide by:
a. The DG will not cause JEMC service voltage to go outside the requirements of ANSI
C84.1 Range A.
3
b. The grounding scheme of the DG shall not cause over voltages that exceed the rating
of equipment connected to the Distribution System and shall not disrupt the
coordination of protective devices.
c. The DG shall tie into the Distribution System without causing a voltage fluctuation at
the Point of Common Coupling plus or minus 5 percent and shall not create
objectionable flicker for other customers.
d. The DG shall cease to be energized for faults on the Distribution System before any
Reclosing. And shall only reconnect after the Distribution System has been within
voltage and frequency limits for 5 minutes.
The DG owner is solely responsible for protecting their equipment in such a manner that
faults or other disturbances on the Distribution System do not cause damage to the DG
owner’s equipment.
2.
General Requirements
The following are requirements for any DG that will be operated in parallel with the
Distribution System.
3.
a.
The DG system will have to be reviewed and accepted by JEMC before installation.
This includes all devices and equipment.
b.
Any relay settings used for JEMC protection will be reviewed and accepted by
JEMC.
c.
Maintenance requirements for the DG system must be reviewed and accepted by
JEMC.
d.
A disconnect device shall be installed to electrically isolate the Distribution System
from the DG. This device shall provide a visible air gap between the DG and
Distribution System and be lockable in the opened position.
Operating Requirements
The following are requirements for any DG that will be operated in parallel with the
Distribution System. These requirements prevent power flowing into the transmission
grid.
a. The total generation output is less than the minimum substation load.
b. The total generation output is less than the minimum substation load under maximum
single distribution contingency.
4.
Protection Requirements
The DG and Point of Common Coupling shall be designed with proper protective devices
to promptly and automatically disconnect the generation from the Distribution System in
4
the event of a fault or other system abnormality. The type of protection required will be
determined by:
a.
Size and type of the generating equipment.
b. The method of connecting and disconnecting the DG from JEMC’s electrical power
system.
c. The location of generating equipment on the Distribution System.
5.
Electrical Code Compliance
The DG owner shall be responsible for complying with all applicable local, independent,
state and federal codes such as, but not limited to: building codes, National Electric Code
(NEC), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), noise, and emissions standards.
The DG shall comply with the latest revisions of the ANSI/IEEE standards applicable to
the installation, especially IEEE 1547 “Standard for Interconnecting Distributed
Resources with Electric Power Systems.”
IV. APPLICATION PROCESS
A customer who intends to interconnect a DG system with the Distribution System will undergo
the following process:
1. The Interconnection Customer completes the Interconnection Request (Application) and
submits it to JEMC. JEMC acknowledges to the Customer receipt of the Application
within three business Days of receipt. JEMC evaluates the Application for completeness
and notifies the Customer within ten Business Days of receipt that the Application is or is
not complete and, if not, advises what material is missing.
2. JEMC verifies that the DG Facility can be interconnected safely and reliably using the
screens contained in the Fast Track Process within 15 Business Days of receiving the
completed Interconnection Request. If the proposed DG is a Certified Inverter-based
system no larger than 10 kW, it can apply using the Fast Track Process. Otherwise, the
following are screens used to determine the applicability of the Fast Track Process.
a. The proposed DG system is no larger than 100 kW.
b. The proposed DG does not exceed 15% of the annual minimum load for the Line
Section with which it will interconnect.
c. The proposed DG, in aggregation with other generation on the distribution
circuit, shall not contribute more than 10% to the distribution circuit’s maximum
fault current at the point of the nearest interconnection with the JEMC primary
distribution voltage.
d. The proposed DG, in aggregation with other generation on the distribution
circuit, shall not cause any distribution protective device and equipment
(including, but not limited to, substation breakers, fuse cutouts, and line
5
reclosers), or interconnection customer equipment on the system to exceed 87.5%
of the short circuit interrupting capability.
e. If the proposed DG is to be interconnected to a Single-Phase Shared Secondary,
the aggregate generation capacity on the secondary, including the proposed DG,
shall not exceed 20 kW.
f.
If the proposed DG is single-phase and is to be interconnected on a center tap
neutral of a 240 volt service, its addition shall not create an imbalance between
the two sides of the 240 volt service of more than 20% of the nameplate rating of
the service transformer.
g. No construction of facilities by JEMC on its own system shall be required to
accommodate the small DG.
If the proposed DG passes the screens for the Fast Track Process, and unless JEMC
determines that the DG Facility cannot be interconnected consistent with safety,
reliability, and power quality standards in accordance with Section II, then JEMC shall
approve the Interconnection Request and provide the Customer an executable
Interconnection Agreement within five Business Days after the determination.
Also, if the proposed DG and fails any of the screens for the Fast Track Process, but
JEMC determines that the DG may nevertheless be interconnected consistent with safety,
reliability, and power quality standards in accordance with Section II, JEMC shall
approve the Interconnection Request and provide the Customer an executable
Interconnection Agreement within five Business Days after the determination.
In either of the cases above, steps 3 and 4 of the Application Process are deemed
completed. However, if the proposed DG fails any of the screens and JEMC determines
that the DG Facility cannot be interconnected consistent with safety, reliability, and
power quality standards in accordance with Section II, the Customer will have the
opportunity to attend a scoping meeting as described in step 3.
3. If the proposed DG (1) is larger than 100 kW, (2) is not Certified, or (3) is Certified but
did not pass the Fast Track Process the Study Process shall be used. The Study Process
starts with a scoping meeting to discuss the Interconnection Request. In this meeting any
further studies, such as a feasibility study, a system impact study, or a facility study will
be discussed, along with any further fees needed to perform these studies. Also, in the
case that modifications to the request are required in order to comply with the
requirements of Section II, the modifications will be identified by JEMC and
communicated to the Interconnection Customer. At this point, the Customer can
determine whether or not to proceed with the further studies, pay applicable fees, and/or
make necessary modifications to the Application.
4. After JEMC completes all required studies, the results of the studies will be shared with
the Interconnection Customer. These results may include identification of system
upgrades and dedicated facilities, estimates of the interconnection costs, any monitoring,
special metering or control requirements, any special protection requirements, or any
other applicable study results. At this point, the Customer can determine whether or not
to proceed with a final design submission and pay any identified interconnection costs.
JEMC will review the final design and unless JEMC determines that the DG Facility
6
cannot be interconnected consistent with safety, reliability, and power quality standards
in accordance with Section II, then JEMC shall approve the Interconnection Request and
shall provide the Customer an executable Interconnection Agreement within five
Business Days after the determination.
5. After execution of the Interconnection Agreement and payment for the identified
interconnection costs, if applicable, the Interconnection Customer can proceed with
installation of the DG system. JEMC will use prudent utility practices to coordinate with
the Interconnection Customer to complete the system installation and construct any
needed Distribution System facilities. After installation and all applicable equipment
modifications or additions are completed the customer shall cause the installation to be
inspected or otherwise certified by the appropriate local electrical wiring inspector with
jurisdiction and shall return the Certificate of Completion to JEMC.
6. Prior to parallel operation of the DG, an inspection shall be performed by JEMC to insure
the proper installation and operation of the interconnection protective devices in
compliance with applicable standards. The inspection may include a witness test. If the
witness test is not satisfactory, JEMC has the right to disconnect the DG Facility and
notify the Customer of what steps it must take to pass inspection. If the witness test is
satisfactory, JEMC will notify the Customer in writing that interconnection of the DG
facility is authorized and schedule any necessary metering replacement. The Customer
has no right to operate in parallel until a witness test has been performed, or previously
waived on the Application. JEMC is obligated to complete this witness test within ten
Business Days of the receipt of the Certificate of Completion. If JEMC does not inspect
within ten Business Days or within a schedule determined by mutual agreement of the
parties, the witness test is deemed waived. Neither the inspection nor the granting of
approval to connect shall serve to relieve the DG owner of any liability for injury, death
or damage attributable to the negligence of the DG owner.
V. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
The Interconnection Customer shall maintain general liability insurance, during the term of the
Agreement, from a qualified insurance agency with a B+ or better rating by “Best”. The amount
of general liability insurance coverage required will commercially reasonable and be determined
on a case-by-case basis by JEMC.
7
APPENDIX A
INTERCONNECTION APPLICATION PROCESS FLOWCHART
No
Customer submits
application and fees
Is Application
Complete?
Yes
Additional
engineering studies or
facilities required?
Preliminary Screen
for Fast Track
Process
No
Yes
Approval and execution
of Interconnection
Agreement
Scoping Meeting sharing
additional study requirements
and study costs.
No
Proceed?
Yes
Installation of DG
facilities and construction
of applicable system
upgrades or
interconnection facilities
Delivery of Certificate of
Completion to JEMC
JEMC Final Inspection
and System Testing
Engineering studies
performed.
Results of Engineering
Studies shared with the
Interconnection Customer
Identification of
additional facilities
Cost of
Interconnection
No
Proceed?
Yes
Letter of approval for operation of
DG facilities delivered to the
interconnect customer.
Final design
submission and review.
8
APPENDIX B
INTERCONNECTION REQUEST
(APPLICATION)
9
JACKSON ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
INTERCONNECTION REQUEST
(APPLICATION)
Processing Fee
A non-refundable processing fee of $100 must accompany this Application.
Interconnection Customer
Name:
Contact Person:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Telephone (Day):
(Evening):
Fax:
E-Mail Address:
Contact (if different from Interconnection Customer)
Name:
Contact Person:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Telephone (Day):
(Evening):
Fax:
E-Mail Address:
Distributed Generation Facility Information
Location (if different from above):
Account Number:
System Design Capacity:
(kW)
(kVA)
Prime Mover: Photovoltaic
Reciprocating Engine
Fuel Cell
Turbine
Other
Energy Source: Solar
Wind
Hydro
Diesel
Natural Gas
Fuel Oil
Other (describe)
Generator Manufacturer:______________________ Model: _______________________
10
Inverter Information (if applicable)
Inverter Manufacturer:
Model: _______________________
Nameplate Rating:
(kW)
(kVA)
(AC Volts)
Single Phase
Three Phase
Is the equipment UL 1741 Listed? Yes
No
If Yes, attach manufacturer’s cut-sheet showing UL 1741 listing.
Disconnect Switch Manufacturer _________________ Model: _____________________
Disconnect Switch Rating: _________ (AC Amps)
List components of the Distributed Generation Facility equipment package that are
currently certified:
Equipment Type
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Certifying Entity
Please attach a detailed one-line diagram of the proposed Distributed Generation Facility,
major equipment specifications (generators, transformers, inverters, circuit breakers,
protective relays, disconnect switches, etc), and any other applicable drawings or
documents necessary to for the proper design of the interconnection.
Estimated Installation Date:
Estimated In-Service Date:
Interconnection Customer Signature
I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the information provided in this
Application is true. I agree to provide any further information required during the
Interconnection Application Process and to install and operate the interconnecting
equipment according to the Terms and Conditions as outlined in Jackson Electric
Membership Corporation’s Distribution Interconnection Procedure.
Signed:
Title:
______
Date:
11
APPENDIX C
INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT
12
JACKSON ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION FACILITY INTERCONNECTION
AGREEMENT
This Agreement made _____________________, 20___ between Jackson Electric
Membership Corporation (hereinafter called “Cooperative”), and __________________________
______________________________________________________________________ located at
______________________________________________________________________________
(hereinafter called the “Interconnection Customer”), (hereinafter sometimes individually referred
to as a “Party” and sometimes collectively referred to as the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, the Cooperative is an electric membership corporation providing retail
electric service, and
WHEREAS, the Interconnection Customer is a member of the Cooperative; and
WHEREAS, the Interconnection Customer desires to install, own, operate, and maintain
a Distributed Generation (DG) facility as defined in the Cooperative’s Distributed Generation
Interconnection Procedure; and
WHEREAS, the Interconnection Customer desires to operate its generation equipment in
parallel with the Cooperative’s System.
NOW THEREFORE, it is understood and agreed that the Cooperative shall permit the
Interconnection Customer to connect its generation system to the Cooperative’s Distribution
System and to operate its generation equipment in parallel with the Cooperative’s Distribution
System subject to the following terms and conditions:
1) CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY
The Interconnection Customer may proceed to construct (including operational testing not to
exceed two hours) the DG Facility when the Cooperative approves the Interconnection
Request and executes this Agreement.
2) INTERCONNECTION AND OPERATION
The Customer may operate DG Facility and interconnect with the Cooperative’s electric
system once all of the following have occurred:
2.1)
Upon completing construction, the Customer will cause the DG Facility to be
inspected or otherwise certified by the appropriate local electrical wiring inspector
with jurisdiction, and
2.2)
The Customer returns the Certification of Completion to the Cooperative, and
2.3)
The Cooperative has either:
2.3.1) Completed its inspection of the DG Facility to ensure that all equipment has
been appropriately installed and that all electrical connections have been made
13
in accordance with applicable codes. All inspections must be conducted by
the Cooperative, at its own expense, within ten Business Days after receipt of
the Certificate of Completion and shall take place at a time agreeable to the
Parties. The Cooperative shall provide a written statement that the DG
Facility has passed inspection or shall notify the Customer of what steps it
must take to pass inspection as soon as practicable after the inspection takes
place; or
2.3.2) If the Cooperative does not schedule an inspection of the DG Facility within
ten Business Days after receiving the Certification of Completion, the witness
test is deemed waived (unless the Parties agree otherwise); or
2.3.3) The Cooperative waives the right to inspect the DG Facility.
2.4)
The Cooperative has the right to disconnect the DG Facility in the event of improper
installation or failure to return the Certificate of Completion.
2.5)
Revenue quality metering equipment must be installed and tested in accordance with
applicable ANSI standards by the Cooperative.
3) SAFE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
The Customer shall be fully responsible to operate, maintain, and repair the DG Facility as
required to ensure that it complies at all times with the interconnection standards to which it
has been certified.
4) ACCESS
The Cooperative shall have access to the disconnect switch for the DG Facility at all times.
The Cooperative shall provide reasonable notice to the Customer when possible prior to using
its right of access.
5) DISCONNECTION
The Cooperative may temporarily disconnect the DG Facility upon the following conditions:
5.1)
For scheduled outages upon reasonable notice.
5.2)
For unscheduled outages or emergency conditions.
5.3)
If the DG Facility does not operate in the manner consistent with these Terms and
Conditions.
5.4)
The Cooperative shall inform the Customers in advance of any scheduled
disconnection.
6) INDEMNIFICATION
The Parties shall at all times indemnify, defend, and save the other Party harmless from, any
and all damages, losses, claims, including claims and actions relating to injury to or death of
any person or damage to property, demand, suits, recoveries, costs and expenses, court costs,
14
attorney fees, and all other obligations by or to third parties, arising out of or resulting from
the other Party’s action or inactions of its obligations under this agreement on behalf of the
indemnifying Party, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing by the
indemnified Party.
7) INSURANCE
The Parties each agree to maintain commercially reasonable amounts of insurance. The
Customer shall maintain general liability insurance, during the term of the Agreement, from a
qualified insurance agency with a B+ or better rating by “Best”.
8) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Each Party’s liability to the other Party for any loss, cost, claim, injury, liability, or expense,
including reasonable attorney’s fees, relating to or arising from any act or omission in its
performance of this Agreement, shall be limited to the amount of direct damage actually
incurred. In no event shall either Party be liable to the other party for any indirect, incidental,
special, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind whatsoever, except as allowed under
paragraph 6.
9) ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Any additional terms and conditions not addressed the body of this Agreement may be
attached in an Addendum A.
10) TERMINATION
The agreement to operate in parallel may be terminated under the following conditions:
10.1)
By the Customer - By providing written notice to the Cooperative.
10.2)
By the Cooperative - If the DG Facility fails to operate for any consecutive 12 month
period or the Customer fails to remedy a violation of these Terms and Conditions.
10.3)
Permanent Disconnection - In the event this Agreement is terminated, the
Cooperative shall have the right to disconnect its facilities or direct the Customer to
disconnect its DG Facility.
10.4)
Survival Rights - This Agreement shall continue in effect after termination to the
extent necessary to allow or require either Party to fulfill rights or obligations that
arose under the Agreement.
11) ASSIGNMENT/TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE FACILITY
This Agreement shall survive the transfer of ownership of the DG Facility to a new owner
when the new owner agrees in writing to comply with the terms of this Agreement and so
notifies the Cooperative.
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement all as of the day and
year first above written.
Jackson Electric Membership Corporation
By:
_____________________________
Name: Randall Pugh
Title:
President / CEO
Interconnection Customer
By:
_____________________________
Name: _____________________________
Title:
_____________________________
16